On the day that Devin Hester set a franchise kickoff return record, he was nearly upstaged in the return game.

Hester set a Bears record for kickoff return yardage in a single game with 249 yards on five returns, including ones of 76 and 80 yards in the first half. Hester broke his own record of 225 yards set on Dec. 11, 2006 against the St. Louis Rams. His average of 49.8 yards per runback is the third-highest in franchise history.

Three of Hester’s returns were followed by turnovers on the offense but the overall was a boost to the offense.

“He was there all day long, punt returns, kickoff returns,” said quarterback Jay Cutler. “He was averaging 50 yards a kickoff return.”

But the Bears allowed a return of 105 yards, longest in Soldier Field history, on the opening kickoff by rookie Cordarrelle Patterson. And they also were penalized twice for 12 men on the field, once resulting In a first down.

Robbie Gould converted a 20-yard field goal at the end of the first half.